Actually Good Coffee Podcast

46. Why You Shouldn't start a Coffee Roastery

Happy Monday everyone. On today's episode I discuss the current state of the coffee market and why it may not be the best idea to start your own coffee roasting business. I also give a bit of my own personal background in coffee before taking over Maiden as well as some other potential options you could start with before starting your coffee business. It never hurts to gain some added experience in your market before paving your own path. So start by tuning into today's episode! 
 
Source: https://perfectdailygrind.com/2025/08/why-you-shouldnt-open-passion-project-roastery-in-2025/

45. Our New Decaffeinated Coffee

On Today's episode I sat down with my wife and co-owner of Maiden Coffee to discuss Maiden's new decaf coffee. We discuss our history with decaffeinated coffees and Alyssa's experience with decaf while pregnant with our son. We also go over some of the worries, issues, and overall consumer outlook on decaffeinated coffee and how we feel ours can fit into the ever changing specialty market. If you are a mother, make sure to stick around to the end of this episode to discover how you can get a free bag of our decaf coffee (available until September 1st, 2025).

44. Gen Z's Baristaphobia

On today's episode I discuss a trend that's been silently affecting coffee shop owners with a much larger impact than you might expect. Gen Z'ers are becoming too afraid to talk to humans in order to purchase their daily coffee. To most this may serve as the perfect opportunity to criticize the younger generation and strengthen the "kids these days" attitude. But to coffee shop owners this may serve as a great time to re-evaluate your business model. Listen here to discover actionable steps you can take right now to improve sales and create a success driven culture within your shop.
Source: https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/gen-z-baristaphobia-fear-coffee-shops-b2799029.html
 
Maidencoffee.com

43. Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations

On today's episode of AGCP I discuss the international meeting currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland on what to do about the current plastic pollution issue. Plastic pollution, specifically microplastics, continues to surprise us in being the source of many health, environmental, and even economic issues predominantly affecting low-income communities. I provide my take on this issue as well as an update on what Maiden Coffee Roasters is currently doing to mitigate our plastic pollution contribution.
 
Check it out for yourself: https://maidencoffee.com/
 
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-05/why-the-world-is-divided-on-a-plastic-pollution-treaty?cmpid=BBD080525_GREENDAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=250805&utm_campaign=greendaily
 

42. How to Actually Run a Profitable Coffee Roasting Business

On today's episode I sat down with Luke Waite of Pomelo Coffee Consulting. Luke is an industry veteran and has stared P.C.C. to help coffee roasters strengthen their margins as well as their operating procedures. We discuss the power of saying no to a potential client, how NOT to run your business like a charity, and other important lessons all discussed in his upcoming book "The Owner’s Manual: A Guide to Sustaining A Coffee Roaster". If you have just started a coffee roasting business, have been operating for over a decade, or even own a business outside of the coffee industry, tune in to hear both valuable and easily applicable lessons.
Click the link below to pre-order now. https://www.pomelocoffeeconsulting.com/pomelo-book

41. The SCA and CQI have some explaining to do

In this episode, I sit down with Thomas Ameloot — owner of Colabops and CoffeeTron, SCA and CQI certified trainer, and one of the most respected voices in the specialty coffee world. With a resume that seems to go on forever, Thomas was the perfect guest to unpack the Specialty Coffee Association’s recent acquisition of the Coffee Quality Institute’s Q Program. The Q has long stood as the gold standard in coffee evaluation, shaping the way we define quality in specialty coffee. We dive into what this merger could mean for the industry at large — from the trainers and certifiers to the farmers and everyday coffee drinkers.
 
Join my online coffee community: https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

40. How Nostalgia ties into Coffee

Nostalgia is one of the most powerful forces in the world—when used right, it can shape entire industries. While earning my Q-Grader certification in 2024, I realized how nostalgia plays a huge role in how we experience and grade coffee. Take Nintendo, for example—they’ve built one of the most loyal fanbases by tapping into the emotional connection people have with their past. But what if that same principle was applied to coffee? In this episode, I dive into the role of nostalgia in crafting a memorable cup and how it can shape the future of specialty coffee.
 
This is the final segment of a course initially featured on our online coffee community.
 
Join here!
https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

39. The Key to Tasting Coffee

On today's episode I share with you all a segment from one of our online community's classes. In the original video I discuss some of the methods that helped me acquire my Q-grader certification as well as what I believe to be the key to tasting coffee. As helpful as getting this certification was for my career I don't believe it is a necessary requirement in order to be successful in coffee. If you can fully grasp the concept I discuss here you'll be just fine.
 
Join my online community!
https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

38. Running a Coffee Roasting Business with a Newborn

My wife, Alyssa, and I just had our first baby, and unfortunately, no amount of coffee can prepare you for the newborn stage. We’ve officially passed the first month running on fumes while keeping our coffee roasting business afloat. Between midnight diaper changes and 3 AM feedings, we figured it might be helpful (or at least entertaining) to share what we’ve learned so far. So, if you're a fellow sleep-deprived parent, business owner, or just curious how we're managing both without totally losing it—tune in.
 
Join my online community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

37. Tariffs

On today's episode, I discuss a topic that just can't seem to make it's way out of the news lately. It's also had an impact on the coffee market, assisting in driving the price of coffee up to an all-time high. If you're a fan of Colombian, Mexican, or Decaf coffee, this might be worth the nine minutes it'll take for you to tune into todays episode.
 
Join my online community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about